Sam Darnold faces Panthers, looks to lead Seahawks closer to NFC West title

Seattle (12-3) at Carolina (8-7)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Seahawks by 7.

Against the spread: Seahawks 10-5, Panthers 9-6.

Series record: Seahawks lead 9-4.

Last meeting: Seahawks beat Panthers 37-27 on Sept. 24, 2023.

Last week: Seahawks beat Rams 38-37 in OT; Panthers beat Buccaneers 23-20.

Seahawks offense: overall (7), rush (21), pass (6), scoring (3).

Seahawks defense: overall (8), rush (3), pass (14), scoring (2).

Panthers offense: overall (25), rush (11), pass (26), scoring (27).

Panthers defense: overall (17), rush (19), pass (16), scoring (13).

Turnover differential: Seahawks minus-4; Panthers even.

QB Sam Darnold. The Seahawks have five straight wins with Darnold under center. Next up for Darnold is one of his former teams, the Carolina Panthers, who allowed him to leave in free agency following two seasons in Charlotte in 2021-22. Darnold revived his career last year in Minnesota, and has built on that success this season in Seattle. Seattle can clinch the NFC West this weekend with win and a Rams loss or tie against the Falcons as well as a 49ers loss or tie against the Bears.

DE Derrick Brown. Brown could be extra motivated this week to show the rest of the league that he's still a difference-maker after getting snubbed in the Pro Bowl voting despite finishing third in the fan voting. Brown, who was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2023, has 54 tackles along with seven pass breakups and a career-best five sacks.

Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Panthers CBs Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. Smith-Njigba has emerged as one of the league's best wide receivers with 104 catches and more 1,600 yards receiving this season along with 10 touchdown catches. On Sunday he'll face two of the league's better cornerbacks in Horn and Jackson. The long and physical Horn was selected as a Pro Bowler for his second straight season. The Panthers normally don't rotate Horn to the opponent's best receiver in large part because they have confidence in Jackson's ability to cover out on the island.

Seahawks: T Charles Cross (hamstring) is out Sunday after also missing last Thursday's game against the Rams. S Coby Bryant, who left the Rams game with a knee injury, will also miss Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Panthers: QB Bryce Young strained his ankle in last Sunday's win over Tampa Bay but remained in the game and is expected to play against the Seahawks. Other than that, the Panthers made it through last week's game relatively healthy and should be close to 100%.

The Seahawks have dominated the series, winning four of the past five and eight of 10. Seattle has scored at least 23 points in each of the past six meetings.

The Seahawks have 12 wins in their first 15 games for the first time since 2019. Seattle went 10-7 last season and hasn’t had a losing season since 2021 under Pete Carroll. ... The Seahawks are 7-3 against NFC foes this season. ... Mike McDonald needs one road win to move into second place for the most road wins by a head coach in his first two seasons in NFL history with 14. …TE A.J. Barner has set single-season career highs in receptions (47), yards (462) and touchdowns (five). … Zach Charbonnet needs one touchdown to become the first Seahawks player since Marshawn Lynch (2014) to have double-digit rushing touchdowns in a season. … WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL in receiving yards this season, needs 90 yards to become the second player in NFL history with at least 90 receiving yards in 14 games within a season, joining teammate Cooper Kupp (16 games in 2021). … Ernest Jones IV has at least 100 tackles for the fourth season in a season. … Jason Myers needs eight field goals made to pass David Akers (2011) for the most field goals made in a single season in NFL history with 45. ... The Panthers can wrap up their first NFC South title since 2015 with a win and the Tampa Bay loss to Miami. ... QB Bryce Young has 12 fourth quarter or overtime game-winning drives since coming into the league in 2023, the most of any QB in the league. ... Under second-year Dave Canales the Panthers are 11-5 in one-score games, tied for the fourth-best winning rate in the league since 2024. Carolina is 4-1 in overtime games under Canales. ... The Panthers have converted 23 of 33 fourth down conversions attempts. They rank fourth with a 69.7% conversion rate. ... Carolina has scored on its opening possession in 10 games this season, tied for the most in the league with the Los Angeles Chargers. ... Panthers RB Rico Dowdle is only the sixth undrafted player to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in back-to-back seasons.

Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan has five touchdown receptions in the past five games.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales greets quarterback Bryce Young after their win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba reacts after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker is tackled by Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) walks on the field after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — This is what it’s come down to for the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore will miss the playoffs for just the second time in the last eight years unless it wins its final two games on the road and the Pittsburgh Steelers lose Sunday at Cleveland.

The Ravens (7-8) likely will be playing the first of those games Saturday night at Green Bay (9-5-1) without two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was listed as doubtful with a back injury.

“There isn’t any added pressure,” Ravens running back Derrick Henry said. “We’ve played football our entire lives. Let’s go win.”

Baltimore hardly expected to be in this position after going a combined 25-9 and winning the AFC North the last two seasons. If the Ravens win Saturday and the Steelers lose Sunday, their Jan. 4 matchup in Pittsburgh would determine the division champion.

Tyler Huntley likely will start at quarterback for Baltimore after Jackson got hurt in the second quarter of a 28-24 loss to New England last week.

The Ravens do get a break in that they're playing a Green Bay team that already is guaranteed a playoff spot and won't have its starting quarterback.

Green Bay has ruled out Jordan Love after a concussion sidelined him in the second quarter of a 22-16 overtime defeat at Chicago. Backup Malik Willis hurt his shoulder later in that game, leaving him questionable for this game.

“It’s the situation, so you just prepare the best you can and try to lay out a great plan for whoever’s out there and go play,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.

Green Bay clinched a playoff spot when the Detroit Lions lost 23-10 at Minnesota on Thursday, but the Packers still have incentive to improve their seeding. The Packers would grab the NFC North title if they win their final two games and Chicago loses its last two games.

Both teams have been struggling to finish lately.

Baltimore blew an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead against the Patriots. Green Bay led 23-14 in the third quarter of a 34-26 loss at Denver and followed that by squandering a 10-point advantage in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter in Chicago.

The collapse in Chicago caused Green Bay to lose control of its destiny in the NFC North race.

“I think the vibes are still high,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. “The energy is still high. Obviously, we didn’t want to lose the game, but things happen. So, you’ve got to be able to put it to bed. You can’t dwell on it. We’ve still got an opportunity to do what we want to do, so I think that’s really the biggest thing.”

The Ravens also still have an opportunity to reach their goals, but they’re going to need some help.

“Like you guys said, it’s a must-win game,’ Huntley said. “We’ve had a lot of games where the defense played great, and then we had games where the offense played great (or) special teams played great. Well, we just want the whole game to be everybody playing great.”

It’s clear if Baltimore misses the playoffs, there will be many fans demanding recriminations.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about his own job security Monday and then defended his relationship with star quarterback Lamar Jackson on Wednesday. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is again taking heat over Henry’s usage after the veteran running back didn’t touch the ball on the Ravens’ final two drives against the Patriots.

Green Bay’s injury woes aren’t limited to the quarterback position.

The Packers lost their lone Pro Bowl selection — edge rusher Micah Parsons — to a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 14. Tight end Tucker Kraft and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt also suffered season-ending injuries.

Notable players questionable for Saturday’s game include offensive tackle Zach Tom (back/knee), center Sean Rhyan (knee/illness), wide receiver Christian Watson (shoulder/illness), guard Aaron Banks (neck/illness) and safety Evan Williams (knee).

The Ravens have lost 12 fumbles this season, which is tied for the most in the NFL. Henry’s fumble last weekend cost Baltimore some early momentum, and then a fumble by receiver Zay Flowers ended the team’s final drive.

“The thing about Zay is that he works really, really hard at practice, and he focuses on those things,” Harbaugh said. “And yet, man, the ball gets punched out from a blind spot. So, we’ve just got to keep on working on catching it and putting it away and getting up field and protecting the football when you’re in traffic like that.”

Green Bay has driven inside the opponent’s 20-yard line nine times during its two-game skid, but the Packers have just one touchdown to show for it. The Packers didn’t reach the end zone on any of their five red-zone possessions against Chicago.

The Packers had ranked second in the league red-zone touchdown efficiency before these last two games.

The Packers haven’t recorded a single sack over their last two games. That includes one game without Parsons and another game in which he tore his ACL in the third quarter.

AP Sports Writer Noah Trister contributed to this report.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt Lafleur during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Green Bay Packers' Xavier McKinney breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos' Courtland Sutton during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (5) passes against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)